-Wesley's Apartment-
Wesley lay in silence almost asleep with a bottle of alcohol on the sidetable beside him. He had spent most of his nights this way for a long while. Right now, he thought about his plan to save Angel and about how that backfired. He thought about Buffy and he thought about Lilah. As if she had read his mind Lilah burst into his apartment and she was mad.
She walked right up to the bed to face an unphased Wesley, "You son of a bitch." Wesley looked over at her just in time for her explanation, "We picked up Justine yesterday at the docks and she had a bunch of useful information. You saved him, you knew where he was and you saved him."
"Lilah..."
She wouldn't let him get a word in, "You had Justine this whole time. You're good. I hate to admit it but you're good."
Wesley sat up with his legs on the side of the bed closest to Lilah with her not even five feet away, "I didn't save him. I was going to and I did have her caged in my closet but Buffy showed up." The name Buffy shocked Lilah and Wesley noticed. Suddenly he was wide awake, "What's going on Lilah?"
Lilah smiled her evil calm smile once more, "Buffy back in L.A. the senior partners are going to love this."
Wesley cursed himself for letting the slayers whereabouts leak. He knew better then that. Still he played it cool, "Your new obsession?"
Lilah shook her head slowly, "On the contrary. Buffy used to be a huge ally back in the day but as we followed her life these past few years...let's just say she's quite the opposite of where we thought she should be. Angel and that Giles fellow really turned her around." She stared deep into Wesley's eyes as if she was trying to read him like she always did before one of their late night meetings, "You were also there for a little while."
The fact that Buffy was considered and ally of the most evil place in the world rung over and over in his head. He couldn't believe it. Had Buffy really been that stupid? It would explain why she tried so hard with Faith. He continued to keep his face unreadable to all emotions as he smiled up at his lover, "I didn't like her then and I don't know her now. It's none of my business."
Lilah shrugged, "You really have changed Wesley."
Wesley wrapped his arms around her waist in front of him and pulled her body right up close to his. She stared up at Lilah and smiled, "Change is good."
Lilah looked as if she was pondering something and smiled, "I have a few hours before a meeting."
Wesley smiled, "A few hours Lilah. You do love to over-estimate yourself." Before she could say anything else their lips were attached in a very passionate kiss that didn't end for at least the next hour or so.
-Hyperion - Kitchen-
Buffy and Conner had just finished eating. Buffy lay back in her chair, "Oh Conner, I'm so full."
Conner smiled, "You want me to carry you upstairs?"
Buffy shook her head, "Nope, I'm good." Conner stared at the very uncomfortable and adorable Buffy Summer's before him in admiration with a smile on his face. She looked up at him finally, "What? Am I already really fat?"
Conner laughed and shook his head, "No, it's just... You're beautiful Buffy, you inspire me."
Buffy smiled and took the compliment. "Thank you." She then thought this would be a good time to start their infamous talking. "When was the last time you drew Conner? I could use a good picture of me."
Conner really thought about it and fell back in his chair, "I think I've only drawn anything once in this life anyway. Some kind of light or angel in quortoth. I left it behind though when I came back here."
Buffy grabbed his hand, "So, you want to tell me how you got back here?" Conner shook his head slowly and Buffy knew it was okay if he didn't want to tell her right now. She smiled instead, "So why don't you go work out some of the artist inside of you and I can take a look. I've really missed our whole fire, read and draw moments."
Conner grabbed her hand really tight, "Don't go anywhere."
Buffy shook her head, "I'd never want to."
Conner winked at her before standing up and started to clear the dishes. Buffy shook her head, "Don't worry Conner, I got them. You go and draw me something pretty."
Conner nodded and rushed out the kitchen exit. Buffy knew it was a lame excuse to make Conner leave because he could draw her anything, anytime but she could hear and sense Angel's shoes and presense. She knew he was listening in the dark somewhere. It comforted her in the way of making her remember how cute the lurking was to her in high school but it angered her that he thought that she needed him there, like she needed supervision. She picked up the plates and walked over to the sink.
When her back faced the door she sighed, "You going to stand there all day, or just wait until he comes back to make sure I say the right stuff then?"
Angel slowly walked into the kitchen and watched as Buffy washed the dishes they just used. It took him a few seconds to say anything, "I needed to talk to you."
Buffy sighed, "If this is about what i say to him or how I say it you're wasting your time. I'm going to help him my way and I'm sorry you feel like you nee..."
Angel cut her off instantly, "I'm sorry."
Buffy shut off the water and turned around, "What?"
Angel sighed and scratched the back of his head while he thought up something to say, "I over reacted Buffy and I know that. I love Conner more then anything, he's my son Buffy, there's no way I wouldn't do anything possible to help him."
Buffy got defensive, "That's all I'm trying to do."
Angel held up his hands in defeat, "I know that Buffy! On the one hand you are trying to make it better, you are trying to save my son but that's not the only reason." He looked her dead in the eyes, "You got the chance to know everything about him, you know what hand he writes with, you know what he likes to eat, what he likes on Tv and even how he fights, hell you taught him how to fight. This isn't just about me, this is about you and how you need to feel better, about how you need him."
Buffy nodded, "I'm not going to lie to you Angel. I love him and when I left my heart broke into pieces. I couldn't do anything in Sunnydale without feeling like I left a part of me back in that place. I have never hid that fact from you, so why are you all of a sudden defensive over that fact I'm trying to help him?"
"I'm jealous." Buffy's eyes widened in realization as Angel continued, "You have everything I ever wanted with him. You taught him everything I wanted to, you became his mother Buffy and walking in here already with that role..."
Buffy held up her hand already guilty, "I'm sorry Angel. I'm sorry you feel like this but I can't just leave, I can't leave him again until he knows I'll always be here."
"I'm not asking you to, Buffy. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm just saying it hurts. You need to be here for him. You're the only person in the world right now who he'll get close to and I need him to be okay, I need him to be happy even if it's not with me."
Buffy moved close enough to Angel to grab one of his hands, "That's the point of my trip Angel, I want him to be happy with you and I will do everything I can to make him see that's possible. I had a lot of his past but you'll have his future if it's the last thing I do."
Angel half smiled down at the love of his life, "You're an amazing woman buffy Summers."
Buffy shrugged it off, "What can I say, everybody loves me." Angel only smiled as a comfortable moment passed between them. Buffy eventually sighed though and broke the silence, "You know if we want this trip to stay about Conner we have got to avoid being alone in the same room."
Angel smiled and their hands slowly split apart, "So what are you guys going to do today?"
Buffy shrugged, "The park and an emotional breakthrough at the ocean he stuck you in. Tough love."
Angel nodded, "You're so good to him."
Buffy nodded and sat down on a chair, "You know, you and me are kind of on the same boat. We both just get Conner back and now we have to find a way to be around him. It just feels so right, like I was supossed to be here with him." Buffy thought about that and remembered Whistler, "Actually since Whistler said I'm supossed to be here then I am probably meant to be here."
Angel sat down in front of her, "It's good that you came."
Buffy nodded and before they could allow this trip to suddenly become an emotional overload she smiled, "So, what is everybody here doing?" Angel shrugged and Buffy smiled, "You should think about that 'welcome back Angel' party!"
Angel laughed, "Could be fun if I could taste cake."
Buffy laughed along until she saw the dishes, "I should finish those and then get going."
Angel stood up first, "I should leave before Conner comes back." Buffy just blinked and Angel rubbed her shoulders before whispering one word and walking out the door, "Thanks." Buffy smiled after him before standing up to finish the dishes to get on with the soap opera day.
-Lobby-
Everyone in the hotel was resting or lounging in the main room with the exception of Buffy and Connor. Willow sighed in the silence, "You know having a welcome back party kind of includes a cake, some hats and you know the occassional mingling or talking."
Angel smiled and realized how much he had missed Willow. She always added such an innocence to the world, like it could always be better so he agreed, "I like the way you think."
Cordelia hopped up and was about to volunteer to go to the store until the doors to the Hyperion opened causing Angel to fly back from the sun. Once he got up absolute anger surged through him as he saw the intruder. Wesley stood before everyone with an apsolute apathetic look on his face. Willow and Tara knew what was going on because they were told the story last night so they didn't know whether to be mad or happy to see a somewhat old friend. Wesley on the other hand didn't want to be in a room with so many who didn't like him and got right to the point.
He took two steps into the hotel and heard Angel's growl before he stopped, "I need to see Buffy."
Cordelia stepped up, "She's busy with the boy."
Wesley stared directly into Angel's eyes, "She could be in a lot of danger."
Angel stopped growling but the reluctance to even be in the same room witht he man who stole his child lingered. It took everything in him to be civil towards this man, his old friend, "What's going on?"
Wesley shook his head, "I know you don't want me to be here and I don't much want to be here myself but I thought it my duty to warn Buffy and you are not Buffy."
Angel was about to lose all his control when Spike patted him on the shoulder and walked towards the kitchen, "I'll get her, just nobody dies while I'm gone."
The room was left with all attention on Wesley. Willow decided to break the tension or try at least, "Hi Wesley, been a while." All he could do was send a small smile her way while keeping an eye on Angel.
-Kitchen-
Connor had come back down and he was just finishing up a drawing before Spike walked in. Buffy looked up at his smirk and sighed, "What's going on now?"
Spike pointed towards the lobby, "Stuffy watcher walked in, says he's got some stuff to tell you. Your life might be in danger...again." Connor and Buffy were standing instantly and followed Spike back out to the main room.
-Lobby-
The second Buffy saw Wesley her emotions became confused. She stared at her connor and grabbed his hand before walking right up to Wesley and deciding that as long as Connor is here now that nothing else really mattered. Wesley couldn't even look at Connor as he thought about the pain that he had caused him alone and kept his gaze on Buffy.
The slayer looked him in the eye, "You sound like you got some news?"
Wesley nodded and looked around before looking back at her, "It's news that you might not want to share with everyone in this room."
Buffy nodded and looked at Connor, "I'm going to be in Angel's office with Wesley. I'll be back I promise."
Connor looked Wesley in the eye, "You keep her safe."
Wesley nodded and walked towards the office. Angel turned his deadly glare towards Buffy, "What the hell are you doing?"
Buffy sighed, "Wesley screwed up but Connor's here now Angel. You got to learn to move on. Don't forgive him just move on. Now I'll be back in a few minutes."
As she stalked off towards the office everyone's gaze turned towards Connor. Willow smiled at him, "So what do you think of the drama so far?"
Connor stared at the office door while he answered, "Me and Buffy used to talk all the time about her life but I'm starting to think she has a lot of secrets, some even I don't know about. Maybe if she didn't this drama as you call it wouldn't exist."
Tara nodded, "Everybody's got secrets, it's what makes us human."
Connor finally looked at the girls, "I'm sorry I snapped before, I have a lot of stuff to sort through."
Willow nodded, "It's okay. Just remember what we said. You can come to us for anything."
Connor looked around the room at the confused faces before nodding. Angel stared at Tara and Willow completely dumbfounded. Even strangers could get him to talk to them. The curiousity of what was going on in the office was killing him a long with the tension of silence in the lobby with Connor constantly glaring at him.
-Angel's Office-
Buffy instantly sat down on the desk as Wesley stood in front of her. There was a short silence that was beginning to get awkward until Wesley finally spoke, "I suposse Angel talked to you about Connor then."
Buffy nodded, "He told me about what you did. I've known Connor since I died." At his confused look Buffy sighed, "I'll tell you about it later."
Wesley nodded, "I'm not sorry Buffy, I believed what I did was right and..."
Buffy stopped him, "I get it Wesley. You wouldn't be able to do anything to hurt a fly unless you though it was right but if you ever touch him again you won't begin to understand the pain I put you through." Another silence engulfed them after the watcher nodded until Buffy couldn't take it, "So my life is in danger?"
Wesley nodded, "I've been spending time with a woman you might know, Lilah?" Buffy's blood ran cold and her gaze at Wesley was not in recognition but fear. Wesley noticed her change and was even more curious if that's possible. He continued, "I didn't mean to... She came to my apartment looking for the perosn who saved Angel and I let it slip that you were in L.A." Buffy stayed silent unable to choose which feeling she should be expressing right now. So Wesley just continued hoping to bring something out fo her, "She also mentioned you used to be an ally."
Buffy finally stood up ready to respond, "I have never hid the fact that I had a past in L.A. Now I did a lot of things and talking to Lilah and Lyndsey was the biggest mistake I have ever made next to listening to them. I don't feel like I have to explain everything to you and frankly it would take a long time." She looked her old friend in the eye, "You said you've been seeing her?"
He nodded, "I don't feel I need to explain myself to you and frankly..."
Buffy cut off his repetition of her words, "I understand, just be careful Wes. You never have any idea what you're getting into with her." A genuine half smile appeared on his face but dissappeared when Buffy spoke, "So when do you see her next?"
"Whenever I call I suposse, why?"
Buffy sighed, "I want this cleared up with her. Could you do me a favor?"
"Depends."
"Call her and tell her to meet you at the beach, the one where Angel was this past summer at about 4 tomorrow morning. I don't want anyone else knowing about this."
Wesley nodded, "I can do that." He was about to leave when something popped into his head and without thinking he said it, "Will you hurt her?"
Buffy understood his connection to her, it was a lot like the one she had with Spike without the sex, so she shook her head, "You know as well as I do that there might be a fight but nothing can hurt her. Just tell her to come alone so make it sound like a date or something, just so i dont' get ambushed or anything."
Wesley smiled, "Of course."
He again was about to leave until Buffy grabbed his arm sleeve, "So what are we going to tell them?" Wesley shrugged and Buffy sighed as the slayer tried to think up something on the way out to the lobby.
-Lobby-
The meeting with Buffy left Wesley completely unsatisfied of his curiousity and awaiting the meeting at the beach. He walked right to the door and Willow waved, "Bye Wesley."
He again just shot her a small smile and walked out the door. Everyone stood staring at Buffy until Angel and Connor spoke at the same time, "What was that?"
Father and son stared at ecahother for a second before looking at Buffy for an answer, "It was nothing. Wesley ran into an old friend of mine who he thought was an enemy but turned out to be just an old aquaintence. Just warned me that she might be showing up sometime soon."
Angel was half believeing her, "And who was this friend?"
Buffy shrugged it off, "It was just some imformant I used to beet the crap out of. She's my Spike seven years ago."
Spike piped up, "So, I'm looking to be replaced am I?"
Buffy shook her head, "As if, she's way too ditzy." She then instantly changed the subject which lead Spike, Angel and Connor to believe she was lying but they both stayed quiet as Buffy just kept talking and stared at Connor, "So, I have plans for me and you while Angel here has his big party."
Connor nodded and smiled, "I'm all yours."
Buffy smiled and looked at Angel, "We'll be back soon, have some fun and uh try not worry alright, I got him."
Angel nodded and watch Buffy take Connor by the arm and walk her towards the door. Cordelia then interrupted the silence by addressing everyone, "So what am I getting from the store?"
Someone said chips, pop, cake, ice cream, hate and all the party essentials but the last thing Buffy heard before her and Connor left was Spike yelling, "Don't forget a little O Negative to spike the punch."
A/N - Just to let you guys know o negative is blood. I know you're not stupid but just in case.